Kelli MacConnell

People ask, “Why a print, why not a painting?” Not only do I enjoy the act of using tools to shape something, but also it’s the surprise factor, the mystery that unfolds with each print that I find so fulfilling. There are a lot of unpredictables involved and the spontaneity of the process demands energy, improvisation, patience and directness, all of which add to my love of this medium. My current body of work focuses on the Pacific Northwest landscape. I create relief prints of these landscapes as a way to honor our diminishing natural environment while providing a place for contemplation, reflection and feelings of nostalgia. Not only do I adore the graphic power of this type of printmaking, but I enjoy the slow, meditative and meticulous process of cutting or carving away the unessential, the use of creative subtraction to form a delicate dance between positive and negative space. With the simple use of line, and contrast of black and white, I strive to create exhilarating compositions inspired by the natural world.